The foodservice business opportunity in Poland
While UK foodservice operators are aware of the contribution to the endemic problem of staff recruitment resulting from the influx of Poles into the UK following Poland joining the EU, there is a business opportunity emerging the other way.
Although only just over half of all Poles ever eat out as an average figure, the young are doing so in increasing numbers and are helping to drive the growth in casual dining in Poland.
Restaurants and bars have latched on to this growth and have seen their unit numbers grow by a third since 2001 reaching over 20,000 units last year.
After several years in the doldrums, the Polish eating out market is expanding. Last year it was worth £3.2 billion, 50% higher than in 2001.
As a sign of growing confidence, Polish operators have invested in more outlets with fast food and other quick service outlets growing from about 7,000 units five years ago to 11,500 at the latest count.
The opportunity for growth in Poland has already been recognised by several of the international and European-based restaurant chains.
McDonald’s, with more than 200 units in Poland and Spanish pizza company Telepizza, with almost 100 are the largest players in the quick service segment in Poland.
But other pizza-based concepts are also well represented in Poland through Da Grasso, Pizza Dominum and Pizza Hut.
The coffee café concept is also growing in Poland through the rapidly expanding Polish-based Coffeeheaven, a Starbucks look-alike, which is already present in five countries in central Europe.
